Press Releases
Van Hollen, Baltimore Lawmakers Call on DOJ to Prevent Return to Prison for Individuals Posing No Danger to Public Safety, Released Due to COVID-19
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) recently wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal urging them to continue home confinement or compassionate release for individuals who were released to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "These individuals were transferred from correctional facilities to home confinement to stem the spread of COVID-19 after the … Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Help Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Honor 13 American Heroes Killed in Afghanistan with Congressional Gold Medals
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) along with Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have introduced bipartisan legislation to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 13 American servicemembers who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 26th. "These 13 servicemembers risked their own lives to save others in the face of terrorist attacks in Kabul. To honor that ultimate sacrifice and ensure that their courage … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Parliamentarian Ruling on Addressing Immigration in Reconciliation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding ruling on Senate Democrats' proposal to allow Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers to apply for lawful permanent resident status via reconciliation: "The Parliamentarian's decision is deeply disappointing, but our fight isn't over. We must strengthen our resolve and push forward. It's time to make protections for Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status holders the law of the land, and we will not … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces More than $6.5 Million in Federal Funding to Support the City of Baltimore’s COVID-19 Response Efforts
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $6,898,433 in federal funding to reimburse Baltimore City for the distribution of food and water to vulnerable city residents during the pandemic. "As food insecurity spiked during the pandemic, the City of Baltimore and its frontline workers stepped up to meet the needs of underserved residents and support those with a higher risk of contracting … Continue Reading
September 17, 2021
Van Hollen, Davis Applaud Inclusion of American Opportunity Tax Credit Fix in House Reconciliation Proposal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Danny Davis (D-Ill.) applauded the House Ways & Means Committee's passage of their bipartisan proposal to repeal the lifetime ban preventing students with felony drug convictions from receiving the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). The AOTC is the primary tax credit available to students seeking a higher education; however, students with a felony drug conviction are permanently ineligible from using the credit. This backwards … Continue Reading
September 17, 2021
Van Hollen, DMV Colleagues Urge FAA to Alleviate Flight Path Noise for Constituents, Consider Community Recommendations
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led ten of his National Capital Region colleagues in urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to alleviate flight path noise for their constituents. The members' letter, sent to FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson, presses the FAA to consider new community recommendations to reduce flight noise as a result of the NextGen flight program. The letter was signed by Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and … Continue Reading
September 16, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce More than $1.4 Million for Frostburg State University to Accelerate Regional Clean Energy Jobs
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $1,480,979 in federal funding to advance clean energy, information technology and biotech training at Frostburg State University through the Western Maryland Advanced Technology Center (ATC). "Investment in workforce training and development is critical to building our economy back better. Frostburg State's work through the Western Maryland Advanced Technology Center will create new jobs for … Continue Reading
September 16, 2021
Van Hollen, Beyer Applaud Inclusion of Millionaires Surtax in House Reconciliation Proposal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) applauded the House Ways & Means Committee's passage of a millionaires surtax within their budget reconciliation proposal. Senator Van Hollen and Representative Beyer initially introduced this concept in their Millionaires Surtax Act in November 2019 and reintroduced this legislation in June of this year. "Right now, everyday Americans are shouldering our nation's tax burden and face a growing opportunity … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on White House’s Announcement of Maryland’s Participation in Afghan Placement and Assistance Program
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the White House's announcement that Baltimore and Silver Spring will serve as hubs for refugees through the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program: "Throughout 20 years of war and American troop presence in Afghanistan, many Afghans risked their lives and the lives of their loved ones to provide vital support to the United States and our allies. Now we have a duty to return that support and help remove … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Talbot County Council Vote to Remove Talbot Boys Confederate Statue from Courthouse Grounds
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Talbot County Council's vote to remove the Talbot Boys Confederate Statue from the County Courthouse grounds: "The judiciary has an obligation to deliver equal justice under the law. Yet, standing outside of the Talbot County Courthouse is a symbol that embodies the opposite: injustice and inequality. The Talbot Boys Statue - which was erected over 50 years after the Civil War during the era of Jim … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, Kennedy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Americans Recover From Natural Disasters
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide relief for impacted taxpayers in states that have issued state-level disaster declarations. Currently, the IRS has the authority to postpone filing deadlines in the event of a presidentially-declared federal disaster, but this does not extend to state-level emergencies. "When disaster strikes, Marylanders need immediate financial flexibility to … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces More than $9 Million in Federal Funding for Baltimore County COVID-19 Response Efforts
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $9,974,703 in federal funding to reimburse Baltimore County for emergency protective measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. "During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline workers across our state mobilized to serve Marylanders and provide critical help to those in need," said the lawmakers. "This FEMA funding will reimburse Baltimore … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Van Hollen, Colleagues Urge the Department of Education to Bolster Federal and State Oversight of Student Loan Servicers
Today, United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in support of a recent re-interpretation of Department policy that will significantly enhance oversight and accountability of the student loan program and its contractors by ending federal … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Van Hollen, Colleagues Request Reallocation of Defense Funding to Assist Afghans
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter to President Joseph R. Biden today requesting that in response to the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan, the administration reallocate unspent funds previously appropriated for the Department of Defense's Afghanistan war effort to meet the vast Afghan humanitarian and relocation needs. There is an estimated $2.9 billion in … Continue Reading
September 13, 2021
Van Hollen, Maryland Congressional Delegation Applauds Biden Approval of Hazard Mitigation Resources to Support COVID-19 Recovery
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) today applauded President Joe Biden for granting their request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal disaster assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) that will strengthen emergency preparedness and mitigation efforts for future public health … Continue Reading
September 13, 2021
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces More than $3 Million in Federal Funding to Support Maryland Hospitals for COVID-19 Response Efforts
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $3,814,136 in federal funding to support Maryland hospitals, Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospital, for emergency protective measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. "During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline workers across our state mobilized to serve Marylanders and provide critical help to those in need," said the lawmakers. "This … Continue Reading
September 11, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement marking the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001: "Twenty years ago the September 11th attacks took the lives of almost 3,000 of our fellow Americans, including 69 Marylanders at the Pentagon, the World Trade Center, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93. That day forever changed our country as we confronted the shock of an assault from a terror group halfway around the world. We will never forget those who lost … Continue Reading
September 10, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Ruppersberger Announce More than $120,000 in Federal Funding for Community College of Baltimore County’s Transportation Training Program
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) announced $123,641 in federal funding to expand the Community College of Baltimore County's Transportation Training Center program from 18 students to 28 students. These funds will help grow the program for more veterans and their family members, providing quality training for students who receive their Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and guaranteed job placements in transportation companies … Continue Reading
September 10, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Ongoing Situation in Ethiopia
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the ongoing situation in Ethiopia: As the situation in Ethiopia continues to worsen, I remain deeply concerned by the evolving conflict and repeat my calls for all parties to come to the table to bring an end to it. I am particularly alarmed by the recent Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) offensive that has expanded the conflict to the Amhara and Afar regions, with new reports of … Continue Reading
September 09, 2021
Van Hollen, Colleagues Release Statement Following CODEL to Lebanon, Israel
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) on a Congressional Delegation to Lebanon, Israel, and the West Bank to discuss regional security and democracy in the region. The delegation's visit to Israel came after the formation of a new government under Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in June, and was the first to travel to the country after President Biden met with Bennett at the White House. The … Continue Reading
